Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Mums, Bumps, BBTs
Happy Tuesday everyone! I hope its as beautiful a day where you are as here in Stuttgart.
Hopefully, our IN family has increased by two members now, and soon, by a thrid!
A big Congratulations to PittPurple, and her doctor's silly mistake! Keeping my fingers crossed for you!
Another big Congratulations to RisaintheSky! Wishing you a very happy and healthy 9 months! Somehow, I think I missed this last week (sheepish grin inserted here)
How is everyone? Ups? Downs?
QOTW: Baby carriers. Are you a baby-wearer? Do you plan on baby-wearing? Is it accepted where you live?
Brit's Luna154 (India) - Due January 16
txlioncub() - Due March
bail229 (Australia) ? Due April 14
Johlise(US) - Due April 18
Just Peachy (Qatar) - Due April 30
MrsHooi (Indonesia) - Due June 1st.
Dublin - Due August 3
Mrs. SC - Due August
traveling turtle - Due August 29
gblake - Due September 3
Coffee&Cream- Due September 9
sushisamba - Due October 17
risainthesky - Due December 10
PittPurple - Due December 16
~BUMPS-TO-BE~
LoopyNoodle (Ireland) ? TTC #1
Treesapplaud (Sweden) ? TTC #1
Blueberries8 (Israel) ? TTC #1
Mavjen (UK) ? TTC #1
ondjima (Namibia) ? TTC #1 http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/26f699
StumpyG (Japan) ? TTC #1
oneslybookworm (Netherlands) ? TTC #1 in 2012
~BIRTHDAYS~
January
5: Melaina25's (Scotland) DS, 2010
7: LizzieandGar's (Ireland) DS, James, 2009
20: titicole (UK) DD, Adaya Caroline, 2012
21: LAChurch's (USA) DS, 2009
21: rpic81 (UK) - DS, Thomas Mateo, 2012
23: lyvienna's (Vienna) DS, Owen, 2008
23: titicole's (UK) DS, Micah William, 2010
February
6: beannie's (UK) DS, TM, 2009
8: lyvienna's (Vienna) DS, Everett, 2010
10: andrea922's (US) DS, Finlay, 2008
March
1: Irishgal (Ireland) DD, Niamh (pronounced Neeve,) 2011
2: Nanner's (Singapore) DD, Hannah Jeanne, 2007
4: kellibelli04 (Guatemala) DD, 2011
6: bahamasbride.04.07's (Germany) DD, Luisa, 2009
11: katrina_pharmd (NZ) DS, Michael, 2011
12: cee-jay's DD, Lina, 2008
April
5: andrea922 (US) DD, Lila, 2011
16: kelly321 (Germany) DD, R, 2011
21: nestinginjapan's (CA) DS, Levi, 2010
22: twopeasinapod's (Netherlands) DS, Quint, 2008
28: stephanieVM's (ARG) DS, Lucien Andre, 2007
May
9: vivjek's (Australia) DD, Isobel, 2009
10: dubliner's (Ireland) DS, Henry, 2010
20: pandi02a (Germany) DS, Dominic, 2011
21: rocket2japan's (Poland) DS, Anders, 2010
24: Bananas0827's (Scotland) DS, Daniel Alexander, 2010
31: hamilton.ja's (US) DD, Evelyn Therese, 2010
June
12: KimiCas's (UK) DS, Sebastien, 2008
22: Linnya's (Germany) DS, Seamus, 2008
22: ExpatFamily06's (UK) DS, Leo, 2009
23: Nanner's (Singapore) DS, Samuel Ezra, 2005
25: MouseInLux's (Luxembourg) DD, Eleanor, 2011
27: welshgirl's (UK) DS, William, 2008
27: brainie's (UK) DD, Elizabeth Jane, 2010
29: cakenbake's (Italy) DS, Jonathan Wesley, 2010
29: xnickerx's (the Netherlands) DD, Sabrina Rachel, 1999
July
2: bigfatgreekwedd's (Netherlands) DD, Una, 2007
2: newporter's (Ireland & NYC) DD, 2009
3: plainjanie1's (Japan) DD, Aeris Noelle, 2010
5: expatjen's (India) DS, 2010
5: MoniqueJW's (Australia) DD, Genevieve Joni, 2010
5: newporter's (Ireland & NYC) DD, 2007
11: Smudges*Mom's DS (Soon to be Germany), 2009
15: stephanieVM's (ARG) DD, Rose Margo, 2009
21: azure_azure's (France) DS, Morgan, 2008
25: stever's (USA) DS, Mikey, 2009
August
1: sarahkelly's (Netherlands) DD, Sadie, 2008
7: ExpatFamily (UK) DS, Ajax, 2011
9: Tofumonkey's (UK) DDs, Kaitlynn and Lochlynn, 2010
12: Emily523 (UK) DS, William, 2010
13: FayeD's (Italy) DS, Baby D, 2009
16: alwyzbsy's (Germany) DD, Alexandra, 2010
17: globalwife (Colombia) DD, Velencia, 2011
21: Just Peachy's (Qatar) DS, EM, 2008
31: Linnya's (Germany) DS, Owen, 2010
September
10: bugabean's (Denmark) DD, Bean, 2008
14: LAChurch's (USA) DD, Zareen, 2010
15: northgal's (Qatar) DD, Vesper, 2009
21: mrshooi's (South Africa) DS, Otto, 2009
26: Amy726's (Australia) DS, Benjamin Ernest, 2010
27: cakenbake's (Italy) DS, Jeffery, 2008
October
13: bugabean's (Denmark) DD, Bug, 2010
15: xnickerx's (the Netherlands) DD, Florence Rebecca Maria, 2010
19: MrsBini10's (USA) DS, Noah, 2011
26: bigfatgreekwedd's (Netherlands) DS, Nestor Arthur, 2010
27: jillana's (UK) DS, Costa, 2008
31: LadyMadrid's (Spain) DD, Aurelia, 2011
November
?: hamilton.ja's (US) DS, 2007
2: traveling turtle's (Germany) DS, William, 2010
9: gblake's (Australia) DS Thomas Cole, 2010
10: EnidFalcor, DD, 2010
10: Choensa's (Korea) DS, 2009
12: MarlaDossett's (USA) DD, Irene Caitlin, 2008
12: lelia's (Germany) DD, Frances Caroline, 2010
23: beannie's (UK) DS, EG, 2011
25: Dublin's DS, Leo, 2010
28: amwallac's () DD, Georgia, 2010
December
2: Ctgirlingermany (Germany) DS - Ryan Charles, 2011
6: welshgirl's (UK) DD, Matilda Jane, 2010
8: lorilane4's (US) DD, Stella Lane, 2010
16: northgal's (Qatar) DD, Neve, 2006
20: BlushingMama's (UK) DS, James Edward, 2007
20: ashleynicoles's (Netherlands) DD, Chlo? Isabella, 2010
22: Shekels831 (Israel) ?DS, 2011
23: chelbel7 (UK) - DD, 2011
23: sandradpage's (Australia) DS, Brayden Luca, 2010
26: kahleorourke's (US) DD, 2009
29: Fififa21 (Mexico) ? DS, Lucas, 2011
Re: Mums, Bumps, BBTs
Ups: ctbaby is awesome. He is so giggly and smiley. It is so much fun to hang out with him now. And sleep has improved! He wakes up for a bottle after going down for the night at 4:00 or 5:00 am, and then will sleep until between 7:00 and 9:00. Last night, he was up for his first bottle at 6:00, it was like magic!
Downs: I shouldn't complain about sleep so much, but now, its bedtime. I can't keep ctbaby awake past 7:00 and then, he sleeps for 30 mins, and is up until 11:00. I love spending so much time with our little guy, but it would be nice to get him down before 11:00 PM.
QOTW: I wanted to baby-wear from the beginning. I have a Moby wrap, and up until only very recently, he hated it. He used to hate having his head covered, and in the Moby, there is no head support without tucking in their head. Now that ctbaby holds his head really well, we have started using the Moby more and more around the house. It isn't very common to see people with babies in baby carriers here though. My MIL made a nasty comment about the fact that I have a baby carrier. And then today, I suggested to my DH that I might take a walk with ctbaby in the Moby, because he's at an akward stage in his stroller. DH freaked out on me and told me that I can't do it because everyone will think I'm so weird.
Ups: I have my first prenatal appointment in a few days, so this will probably be my "Up" for next week too. :P
Downs: Slight nausea has started... I hope it doesn't get worse than this.
QOTW: I plan on babywearing. I have no idea if it's accepted here and I really don't care if it is or not. Right now I'm looking for some hot weather, easy carriers. I think I'm going to get a Baby K'tan Breeze, a mei tai, and an Ergo.
Ups: we had a really fun weekend - we went to the beach one day and Genevieve wore herself out playing in the water and sand and walking the beach with dh - enough to actually STTN for 2 nights - awesome
Downs: she had a fall at daycare yesterday and has a massive bruise above and below her eye - WHY oh WHY do they have a balance beam in the babies room anyway? its only like 2 inches off the ground but *sigh* its just a bummer cause she hasn't had many major falls. And of course - I booked to have her photo taken in a gorgeous dress my aunt sent on Friday and now she has a black eye.....
QOTW: we have a baby bjorn active - I used it ALL the time. We were out nearly every day for a walk when she was tiny and she usually wasn't happy being in the stroller for too long, so I often carried her home in it. I loved it cause the back support was comfortable and it was comfortable on my shoulders
Babywearing is quite common in the suburb where I had G, because a lot of people go out walking by the beach each day, and have the same issue with baby not being happy in the stroller the whole time. I always brought my stroller though, just to hold my bag and for her to sleep in when she wanted to!
Ups: DD is getting more and more vocal, and she?s getting better about following instructions. It?s so cute to see her face light up when I tell her that her Daddy is home.
Downs: She fell on our steps outside yesterday. The dog knocked her over and she fell on the cobblestones and bumped her chin. Poor thing. But she got over it fairly quickly.
QOTW: There are quite a few people where we live who baby wear, so I never felt funny about it. In fact, our pharmacy sells a wrap and the manducca, so it never crossed my mind that someone might find it weird. But we haven?t worn her recently. I think the last time I did it was in October or November because she?s gotten so heavy. I could wear her on my back, but she?d really rather be in the stroller or down running around.
Ups: We met a lovely Japanese lady and her son (only 1 month older than W) at the park today and have a playdate set up for sometime in the near future! Yay!
Last week we found out that W is going to be an older brother to a little girl. Excited that he's going to have a sister. Excited to have a little girl.
Downs: The Japanese lady I met at the park? She's moving next month.
QOTW: I rarely wore W. First, I didn't really like it for everyday use. I preferred my stroller unless I wasn't going to the grocery store, but I went to the grocery store almost every day. I used it once on vacation, but we still brought our stroller when we went out, so it didn't really save anything. It's because he didn't like it at all really. He always tried to push it/me away. When I wore him on my back, forget it. He tried to wiggle out and was getting really good at it. My H had to stand behind him to make sure he didn't fall out. It is very common in my area, though. I almost feel like more people baby wear than use a stroller, but that's not accurate. It's just a lot of people that do.
I will try it with my soon-to-be DD. But, I'm still going to get a double stroller since I know that overall I wasn't too comfortable doing it anyway.
Ups: DD is super happy, pulling up and trying to cruse.
Downs; I think she's getting a new tooth and while trying to cruse she's falling over more.
QOTD: I babywear I love it. I use my jogging stroller now for running and we'll take a stroller if we're going clothes shopping but other than that she'll be in a ring sling or in my mei tai. DH has an Ergo sport but rarely wears her as he prefers to just carry her. People think I'm a bit strange and are amazed that I'm still wearing her at her age (almost everyone here used baby bjorns and have had to stop already).
Ct- that's so strange!
Ups: He's doing great. He's all giggles and smiles, and he has rolls on his arms and legs. I love it. He sleeps pretty well, too. He goes down around 9:30 or 10, is up at 2 to eat and again at 6 or 7. According to a book I'm reading, if I just let him cry for 45 minutes at night he'll be sleeping through the night in no time. Um, no thanks.
Downs: His latch has regressed and breastfeeding is painful again. I had a bit of a cry about it this morning. I'm going to go to yet another breast feeding clinic this week to see if I can get some help. Sigh. I thought I'd be over this by now.
Ups: M has been pretty good the past few days and it's been a week since he got into any trouble at school. He can write all the letters in his name, now we have to work on them being in the right order
Downs: Typical toddler stuff.
QOTW: I had a H'mong baby carrier and the lady showed me how to use it when I bought it, but by the time I had M I forgot and unfortunately never used it.
I was given a Bjorn by some friends and used it all the time when we were in Saigon as the streets were not stroller friendly. In France I used a stroller and just used the Bjorn for travelling and having hands free at the airport.
Ups: Nothing in particular, just generally a good little girl who is dying to be walking but doesn't have the confidence to take that first step on her own yet. Has been standing up from sitting with no support (in the middle of the room) which is a "step" in the right direction. And we're going away to the seaside this weekend, though I'm not sure if the weather is going to be good.
Downs: Went for a walk on Sunday up a hill (paved!) to get exercise. Was colder than we anticipated and N cried the entire way down the hill... 25 minutes of solid crying... only taking a break to say "woof" at any passing dogs... the looks we were getting......
QOTW: We had a carrier that we used the odd time, but it wasn't great. People do use carriers here and perhaps we should have invested more in one. If we have a second baby I would definitely think about a Bjorn so that I could still have a pair of hands free while holding the baby - would make walking with a single stroller possible, rather than the weight of a double stroller.
Ups: dd is 1, which is unbelievable. ds got into the school we wanted for pre-k thrugh 8th so we are excited
Downs: dd is sick, no fun
i love babywearing, and do it every day. I wore ds when we traveled til he was 3. I wear dd in stores, at t-ball, school, etc. I mainly use the beco, but like the ergo too. we also have a moby, bjorn, ring sling, mei tai and kelty
Pros: Matilda is so cute, and her language and understanding are coming along really well. Also, she's now teling me when she's done a wee or a poo - not before, but at least acknowledging it, which William never did until we put him in pants, is exciting. William is great. He's dry most nights now, so I think as soon as the weather is warmer, we'll get rid of hte pull ups.
Cons: Matilda's climbing is also coming along really well! William is missing his cousins.
QOTW: I baby-wore for a while, esp when they were young. But with both mine, they were so clingy, I liked the stroller/pram for giving me time away from them, and also, it was so useful for getting them to sleep separate from me. If they'd been better sleepers, I'd probably have baby worn mroe, if that make sense? But I did a lot in the first 3-6 months.
UPS: Husband and I closed on a flat in Clapham today (!!!!) and move in this weekend - so I can finally start thinking of decorating the nursery!
DOWNS: Have had the flu for a few days now, and not being able to take medication is seriously wiping me out.
QOTW: I do plan to baby carry. Our friends have recommended their carrier (I can not recall which one it is now) and have mentioned they will be purchasing it for us for my shower
Good morning! (I am still on the east coast so its morning for me)
Ups: Emma has started doing belly laughs...it melts my heart hearing her giggle!
Downs: I wish DH was here to see her do this. It has been hard at times having him in Aberdeen and me in the States...I can't wait until May 24th!!!!
QOTW: I wish I could wear Emma more, however she is pushing 20 lbs at 4 months and is outgrowing her Bjorn...my back hurts after "wearing" her for more than 20 minutes.
Get an ergo or a becco, your back will thank you and your dd will love it!
Ups: I feel great. Skittle is moving all over the place and last night DH felt the baby kick for the first time. Ya!
Downs: I'm tired after having the ILs over for two weeks, but other than that, all is good.
QOTW: I would like too. I am going to get the Moby wrap and see how it goes.
Hi Everyone,
I'll chime in here for the first time, if y'all don't mind. We're in Germany, and our son is due May 11; our daughter was born in December 2008. And I have personally had it with this pregnancy, but I try to keep my bitching and moaning limited to the high-risk board (and to my poor husband, whose ears are probably going to start bleeding any minute).
We carried our daughter all the time. I don't even know why we bought the carriage, because we literally never used it. We had a Didymos sling at first, but once we wanted to carry her on our backs and were too dumb to figure out how to do it with the sling, we got a Beco. And then later an Ergo off of Ebay. My husband carried her until she was well over two, until the day she found a McClaren stroller someone had thrown out. We'll do the same with the baby; I think all the carrying really kept us sane in those first few months.
Carrying is pretty normal around Germany, I guess. Unless you're super rich and want to show off your bad-ass baby carriage.
Ups: Finally telling people! I told everyone at work yesterday and was taken back by all the hugs and congrats. So lovely. So many people around here have had babies recently, and I'm sure they're going to be a great source of advice and support.
Downs: My regular clothes are getting a little uncomfortable, especially by the end of the day. But I'm not quite into maternity clothes yet (although I bought a ton when in NYC last week).
QOTD: I plan on it, but haven't picked one out yet.
Cecilia arrived 12 October 2012
Ups: When she's happy, she's freaking adorable right now.
Downs: She's not happy very often. We're still having serious issues with the time change, but it has only been 4 nights, so I'm really trying to be patient. I think everyone knows by now about my big down of the week, so I'll just leave that be.
QOTD: Yes, I have a wrap and a Baby Bj?rn. Where I live it's pretty common (ctgirl - it surprises me that it's so strange where you live since we're so close!), and no one looks twice. I used to wear her in the wrap around the house when I needed to get things done, and I still wear her for quick trips to the grocery store or into town when I don't feel like getting the stroller out. We also use it in the airport so we have all 4 of our hands free. I like it, but she's getting a bit heavy for me, so we'll probably phase it out before too long. DH is running around with my parents' dog outside with her in the Baby Bj?rn right now, though.
Do you mind if I ask why you're high risk? I had HELLP with DD and a deep vein thrombosis after my c/s, so I'm HR as well for any future pregnancies.
Kelly, did I ever tell you how many people live in our town? 4,000. And EVERYONE here is always talking about what everyone else is doing/ isn't doing. There is one family in the town that uses a Bjorn, and you better believe, we have heard multiple comments from multiple people that they are "progressive." Here, I'm the American who married the grandson of a one-time mayor of the town. We do everything different anyway, and I don't know why DH freaked out on this babywearing thing. They are pretty darn backwards here.
I honestly haven't noticed a lot of babywearing in Stuttgart either, but have noticed lots of Bugaboos and Joolz.
Ups: Baby girl is doing well and full of smiles! She is growing so fast and is really alert now. I just put together a jumperoo for her and she is trying it out for the first time. My arms will welcome the break as now she always wants to be held up in a standing position.
Downs: It was so nice to see my family with her when we were just back in the states, but so sad to leave them. I hate that they only get to see her intermittently.
QOTD: I wear her in an Ergo whenever we travel or if we are going somewhere that is more difficult to bring the pram. I like having all my hands free. Around town I prefer to use the pram because usually I do some shopping and then I can put the shopping under the pram. She really enjoys being in the Ergo though.
I wasn't HR with my daughter ... this all came about in this pregnancy. I think the first thing was that I had two miscarriages between my daughter and this pregnancy. That's when it was discovered that I have Factor V Leiden (a clotting disorder). I also had a bit of a progesterone problem at the beginning of this pregnancy, so I was on supplements for that. Then at 32 weeks I had crazy bleeding and some contractions, so I was in the hospital for about a week. After that, I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes. I am so grateful to be in Germany and pregnant ... the healthcare here is awesome. Who knows how much we would've had to pay out of pocket if we had been in the states.
DH is away for a week and I am on my own with two and I hate it. Bath time is a *** when you have a routine for a 2 year old and a 12 week old that feeds on demand.
Ups: DD smiles and giggle and full belly laughs when I nuzzle her tummy. She sleeps well and feeds well.
Downs. DS totally hates change. He is freaking out that daddy is not here so therefore he is just really miserable and trying to control any situation given to him. It breaks my heart as he really is struggling.
QOTW: I wear DD all the time as I didn't want to have to buy a new stroller. We have a manducca with windbreaker water resistant cover. I tried to put her in the stroller once as DS would just walk to the park and she HATED it. She hates being on her back. She always sleeps on her tummy from day 3.
When we were in Korea there isn't much of an infrustructure for strollers people wear their kids to like age 3 or 4. That is wear I go mine.